Firefly (protocol)
Encyclopedia
Firefly is a U.S. National Security Agency
public-key
key exchange
protocol, used in EKMS
, the STU-III
secure telephone, and several other U.S. cryptographic systems.
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
public-key
Public-key cryptography
Public-key cryptography refers to a cryptographic system requiring two separate keys, one to lock or encrypt the plaintext, and one to unlock or decrypt the cyphertext. Neither key will do both functions. One of these keys is published or public and the other is kept private...
key exchange
Key exchange
Key exchange is any method in cryptography by which cryptographic keys are exchanged between users, allowing use of a cryptographic algorithm....
protocol, used in EKMS
EKMS
The Electronic Key Management System system is a United States National Security Agency led program responsible for Communications Security key management, accounting and distribution...
, the STU-III
STU-III
STU-III is a family of secure telephones introduced in 1987 by the NSA for use by the United States government, its contractors, and its allies. STU-III desk units look much like typical office telephones, plug into a standard telephone wall jack and can make calls to any ordinary phone user...
secure telephone, and several other U.S. cryptographic systems.